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The Safety Guide to Buying Herbal Supplements

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:25:00 -0400

Herbal supplements are now well-known by everyone and accepted by most people to help boost their health status. Since the beginning of time, plants of various identities were used by man as a source of energy and nutrition. Later on, their use evolved into their applications for maintaining health like treating wounds, preventing diseases and even being used as antidotes to poisons. Herbal supplements, though considered to be a branch of traditional and alternative medicine, are known for their impact on modern conventional medicine. Though they are of use in preventing some disease conditions and alleviating certain signs and symptoms, they should never be used a substitutes for proper medical treatment. However, their power in affecting the body’s complex processes should never be underestimated, as some herbals contain substances that may set off a stream of problems.

A particular problem with several herbal plants is that they may bring about harmful side-effects and even potentially unsafe interactions with other drugs. A few may also aggravate diseases that are present, especially when the prescribing physician is unaware that his patient is taking an herbal supplement. This is why it is important to inform your doctor or pharmacist of any herbal products you are taking. However, this step may not totally assure safety from unwanted effects of herbals, as most herbal supplements have labels that contain little or indistinct information about the exact quantities of the ingredients they contain.

The good side is, there are many existing studies and evidence that prove that some herbal products can truly be of help for people with certain conditions. Some may be employed for prevention of various diseases in people at risk, while some may be used to improve or optimize the functioning of a specific organ or system.

Aside from these, measures can be taken to further ensure the safe use of herbal supplements. Staying within the range of the recommended amounts will always be a wise step to take. Also, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should first consult their doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbal supplements, as some may possibly reach the fetus or the baby. This is also important, since there are very few established studies on the permissible amounts of herbal supplements that would be safe for the fetus or infant.

Another sensible thing to put in mind when buying herbals is to always check the information on the label, including the expiration date and the date of manufacture. This can give a hint on how stable the product is. All in all, when buying herbal supplements, it is better to be safe and informed rather than careless and sorry.

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Fred Burfell is an expert nutritionist and is a regular contributing columnist in a wide variety of health magazines. To learn more about how to buy supplements, visit buy supplements or discount vitamins.

The Truth About Supplements: Do You Really Need Them?

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:25:00 -0400

Hundreds, or even thousands, of health supplements exist in the market today. Many of these are readily accessible to anyone who are taken in by the claims these products promise to do. Does everyone really need these supplements in their daily diets? Read on and decide.

With the persistent advertising, promotions and attention-grabbing strategies of the health supplement market, many people are enticed and usually don’t think twice before buying the health products offered to them. Imagine how many people buy these supplements. Think of the percentage of this number who actually need the supplements they buy. More often than not, these two figures do not match. Upon asking a health and nutritional expert, I found out that not everyone really needs supplements. Imprudent advice and the information given by ads and product promotions direct more and more people toward buying supplements that they don’t really need. Inappropriate comments, such as some seen on television by bodybuilders or athletes, can also mislead the public into thinking that they all need supplements.

The truth is that, only those people who chronically are not able to take in a complete diet like the hungry or undernourished people who cannot afford three complete meals a day, are those who truly need supplements. Instead, those who take in supplements are those people who really do not need them, as they are capable of getting sufficient nutrition from their food as long as they balance their diets well. Supplements are only ideal when prescribed by your doctor after he determines that you really need them badly.

A large percentage of the supplements available today can be bought through network marketing, and not straight from health shops. As a result of this, those people who sell them directly to consumers can make up various claims of the benefits of the product, from being able to cure a disease to giving you total immune protection from illness. Many even have a long list of the ingredients contained therein and the nutritional values each of these have. However, not all customers bother to read the labels. Some may do, but stop because the technical health terms make the labels difficult to understand. Several supplement brands even boast of having the highest content of certain nutrients, but studies show that some nutrients or vitamins may in fact do more harm than good.

At the end of the day, many health experts will agree that nothing, not even any amount of supplements, can replace the benefits that fruits, veggies, and other natural foods can give together with the nutrients they contain. Anyone who is considering to buy supplements should first solicit advice from a qualified health professional or nutritionist.

Another excellent option for gaining more information on these products is to read reliable health books written by nutritionists and health and fitness experts. These books are centered more on the specific benefits that each natural supplement can do for you, and may also discuss how some may symptoms or which of them prevent certain diseases. All in all, you should first know about what you really need for your health before buying any supplement that you catch sight of. Who knows, this may save you from splurging on something you don’t really need.

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Fred Burfell is an expert nutritionist and is a regular contributing columnist to a wide variety of publications. To learn more about how to buy supplements, visit buy supplements or wholesale vitamins.net.

Top Tips for Spending Wisely on Supplements

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:24:00 -0400

How do you choose your multivitamins? Go to your local drugstore, favorite health food shop, supermarket, and you may be overwhelmed at the scores of varieties and brands and combinations of vitamin supplements there is. There are individual vitamin preparations, combinations of several vitamins, vitamin and mineral supplements, those with additional natural supplements and whatever other combinations and mishmash you can think of. Then there are those that boast of energy formulas, stress formulas, women’s formulas and men’s formulas. As if that’s not confusing enough, each of these have several different brands and manufacturers. We wouldn’t blame consumers if they really don’t know what they’re buying, as anyone would get tired just thinking about all the other options infinitely possible. Because of this, people often spend more than the needed amount on supplements that are not actually right for their body’s needs. The good news is that, you can buy supplements without ending up broke. Here are a few words of counsel.

• Think before buying that all-new popularly-advertised pill.

That new product of so and so company claims to make you more energetic, sexier, younger, and more this and that. Don’t get sucked in. Most supplement labels actually promise more than they can really give. Yes, vitamins play a role in complex biochemical processes that keep your body functioning well and keep those stress levels at bay. But they cannot do all that they claim when taken alone. They don’t reduce stress or increase your immunity or keep you safe from disease only by themselves. Some of them can help in certain conditions, but those that claim to give you all of the good stuff, like energy, complete protection from illness, youth and beauty, would seem too good to be true. And, truth be told, they most probably are.

• Look for that best before date.

Vitamins that have an expiration date on them imply that the manufacturer or packager understands that vitamins are to be consumed within a certain time. They are still products that have a limited time before they become ineffective or useless. Common sense will tell you to stay away from vitamins that have gone past their expiration date. They have most likely been in their containers for far too long and may not work the proper way.

• Keep those supplements out of your kids’ hands

Some vitamin or mineral supplements that may be left lying around can pose much more danger to your child than you think it can. Supplements like iron, in particular, are safe for most adults at the right amounts. But for children, just a few tablets can cause harm and possibly even death. Every year, more than a thousand children accidentally ingest large amounts of iron supplements, which cause severe damage and even death. Don’t be careless with where you place your vitamins. Don’t leave them anywhere your child can reach.

• Don’t pay attention to brand names.

Most vitamins are actually produced by only a few manufacturers. The other drug companies then source their products from these manufacturers, then package, label and advertise them as their own. Then, they charge a higher price than the original manufacturers. So, do you still believe in brand names? Well, I don’t anymore. Choose the cheapest vitamins you can find. Chances are, they have the same formula as the other, more expensive ones.

• Need Vitamin A? Choose beta-carotene instead

Beta-carotene from the food we eat is transformed into Vitamin A inside the body. Taking in beta-carotene is pretty much the same as taking in Vitamin A. The difference is that, Vitamin A is toxic in very high doses, especially when taken for long periods of time. Beta-carotene, however, is safe in any dose. Make sure that you check the labels to see the amount of Vitamin A you’re getting. Think twice before buying those that contain vitamin A with beta-carotene, as you may be receiving more than the usual vitamin A dose.

• Eat right first, then supplement.

Vitamins and other supplements are not substitutes for food. They cannot meet all of your nutritional needs, and will not do much for you if you constantly do not eat the right foods. They are called supplements for the same reason that the word implies-they are just there to improve your intake of vitamins from foods, not completely replace it. Eat the right amount of fruits and vegetables whenever you can. Any of nature’s harvests can only be good for you, as they are shown to lower the risk of cancer, heart problems and most other diseases. Then, after doing your part, take those supplements for added health assurance.

• Your insurance formula may still not give you complete assurance, so supplement more.

That insurance formula you are taking may not be enough for your individual requirements. Different factors may predispose certain people to certain diseases. Genetics, for example, can make you more prone to acquiring conditions like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Because of this, different people may need different amounts of supplements. A higher intake of antioxidants can help save you from cancer later on. Aside from that, some minerals are required in very high amounts that they are not be able to fit into just one pill. Folic acid, for example, is required for women of childbearing age to rule out neural tube defects, but standard insurance formulas may not contain that much. These supplements may also contain iron, magnesium and calcium but only have amounts below the required doses.

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